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NASB | Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment, |
Bible Question:
I often hear the word reincarnation in a scriptural sense. Scripture states that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." This statement was made in the NT. I know that some OT individuals seemed to believe in reincarnation, but can anyone point out anything in the OT (other than questions) that might imply reincarnation? |
Bible Answer: Someone should say No, and say it clearly. Reincarnation is not an idea that comes from Scripture. What do we mean by the word Reincarnation? It is the idea that everyone dies and returns to this life in another form. That is what the dictionary says. Reincarnation: n 1: embodiment in a new form (especially the reappearance or a person in another form); "his reincarnation as a lion". Scripture does not teach that people die and come back in another form. Reincarnation: n 2: a second or new birth [syn: rebirth] Scripture does teach the need for a new birth. However, it is doubtful that this is what anyone has in mind when they use the term Reincarnation. We should make it clear that Jesus is calling for a new birth, which must necessarily take place while we are still alive. Reincarnation: n 3: the Hindu or Buddhist doctrine that a person may be reborn successively into one of five classes of living beings (god or human or animal or hungry ghost or denizen of hell) depending on the person's own actions It is this definition that is most worrisome. One should not get the impression that this is a point of agreement between Christianity and other religions. It is true that Scripture records some people saying that Jesus might be John the Baptist returned from the dead (Matthew 16). But as our brother Hank has pointed out, that was their belief. But they were wrong. It is as when the Bible records the fact some people believed in gods of wood or stone. It does not mean that the Lord sanctions it, or that the Bible teaches it. It is true that the Bible reveals instances of people telling lies. It is quite another matter to say that there are lies in the Bible. Jesus did say that John the Baptist was (another) Elijah. But that is quite different from saying that John was Elijah reincarnated. It had been said of that old prophet that “the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2 Kings 2). Likewise, John the Baptist was preceding Jesus “in the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke 1). But Elijah was in heaven then, and he was not reincarnated as either Elisha or John. Even when he, and Moses, appeared with Jesus on the mount, it was not an instance of reincarnation. It is rather similar to a situation where an angel from heaven comes down to appear to someone on earth. They would appear and disappear. They did not come here to live another life, which is what reincarnation implies. God does not give us other chances at living a life on this earth. It is appointed unto man once to live this life, and then to die, and then to face the judgment (Hebrews 9). The next life will be for eternity, in heaven or in hell. Though some people believed Jesus was John, or Elijah, or some other prophet returned from the dead, it may not even be rightly said that they believed in reincarnation. Besides, there is no other record that I am aware of where anyone else spoke of someone else as having come back for a second chance at life, except in the rare cases of resurrection. And the folks who thought Jesus was someone else come back, they were certainly not acting under inspiration of God. Peter, the one who had been inspired by God, recognized Jesus as the Christ, the promised Messiah, who appeared once, to put away sin. There is a new birth, in this life, that is synonymous with being saved. There is a resurrection, which Jesus achieved, and we are assured of resurrection. But the Bible does not teach reincarnation. |